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My MD always numbs the area, no question or option, just does. Has never had a problem finding my port. I have had a visit 2 weeks after a fill, and that isn't abnormal. Probably wants to make sure that things are going well since the fill. Don't expect to necessarily get another fill 2 weeks later. Especially if you are doing well.

Usually, seeing a NP allows for more time to have questions answered, and have less of a rushed type of appointment. If you don't want to see a NP, you can insist on seeing the MD when making the appointment. It may mean that you might not get the day or time of appointment you want, but usually, fills don't make the MD's much money, so they keep their appointment slots open for patients and appointments that will bring them higher revenue to their practice. Most NP's are paid a salary, and don't have to worry about how many patients they see or how complex the patient is in order to make money, the MD's, most of them, do. But it is your right and if your MD's office is part of a larger health care group, there should be a patients rights poster or pamphlet which explains your rights as a patient. Don't be afraid to complain, but don't be mean either, just state your case to the office manager, director, or administrator. That way they will know what is going on in their practice and can do something about it. Bottom line, if you don't want to see a NP, you shouldn't have to, but it can be a good experience.

I did the same thing. I tried on some of the clothes I thought I could still wear but my husband helped me to decide which ones looked ridiculously big and some that I had refused to donate before in hopes that they would fit and they do! I also shopped in a department store for myself for the first time in YEARS! It was a great feeling.

Usually the gas that they use to inflate your abdomen to do the surgery dissipates and moves toward your left shoulder and chest, thus creating left shoulder pain. Walking usually is the only thing that really helps to get that gas out. I would follow the stages of your post op diet and keep to the liquids for a long as your MD states, then move to fruit after you are able to go to solids. I think the biggest risk is taking too big of a bite and getting stuck, which is no fun. You'll be able to eat solid foods soon enough. Be patient.

Had my first fill yesterday. A little poke with some lidocaine to numb the area, was a really small stick and a little burning sensation, but lasted all of like 3 seconds. Then he did the fill, couldn't feel anything, had to drink 2 big gulps of water, and he wanted it feel like there was only a slight hesitation before the water went down, or a little burp and then the water goes down. He put 3.4 CC's in for my first fill.

That is great news (coming from a Cardiology Nurse)! Good job!

I can't really eat scrambeled eggs,- even if I chew, the bite size gets me every time because they really don't break down that much with chewing. Anyway, just make sure that you keep your bite sizes to the size of the tip of your little finger, and chew 25-30 times each bite. I also had to keep a timer or used an app on my phone to take about 60 to 90 seconds between bites. Eating too fast can cause issues too. I found that 90 seconds was a good time interval with most anything solid inbetween bites. You can google how much protein is in ___ and should be able to find pretty reliable information. Rule of thumb is that most beef cuts are about 7 grams of protein per ounce. A 4oz hamburger patty has 28 grams of protein. A chicken breast 3.5 oz has 30 grams of protein, Fish 3.5 oz has 22 grams. Venison 3 oz is 20 grams of protein.

I had liquid pain medication, but the rule of thumb for swallowing pills with the LB is that they should be no bigger or longer than the tip of your pinky finger. Most pills can be cut in half, any pharmacist will check to make sure of this for you, and that can prevent having to crush medications and deal with the awful taste. As far as water goes, you can't really drink too much. My MD told me to be constantly drinking sips of water for the first 1-3 days post op as tolerated. The goal for the first week post op was at least 32 oz of water, more is better though. For the gas pain, gax x strips worked great for the intestinal gas, but the gas they use to inflate your abdomen, the only thing that helped was walking. If your post op diet instructions were anything like mine, you are on liquids for a few days after surgery so feeling full shouldn't be an issue. I really didn't feel like I was even hungry until maybe post op day 4 or 5. The incisions sites really never hurt that bad at all, it was the gas pain. By day 2-3 you should be able to be pretty pain free when taking your pain medication as prescribed. Also, I would walk as much as you feel up to, at least 2-3 short walks the first could of days post op.

I have 2 dogs (Boston Terriers) that like to jump and stand on my abdomen. When I got home, they knew something was up and were very careful around me. The hardest part was hooking up leashes to go for walks, but it is nice having company when going on the many walks you will need to take to help with gas pain. It might be a little tough to bend down to pick up or fill water/food bowls, but do a squat instead of a bend at the waist and you should be fine.

I wish I would have really understood that a lot of my eating habits were mental habits, and that woud be the hardest thing to change. The LB helps with the negative feedback I need to say, no, you ate too fast, too much, didn't chew enough so I learn new behaviors with physically eating. Mentally, I still think that I need a large amount of food to feel full, and that is not the case.

I think you've got a good plan, but I wouldn't limit yourself to that. I would say that by day 3- I felt pretty good, started to feel human again. I think that if you have flexible plans, then you should just do what you feel you are up to. I was able by day 4/5 do things for about 2-3 hours at a time, normally before feeling tired. If you have the ablity to do frequent stops, and bring something to cushion your body from the seat belt, and you can be flexible to change your plans depending upon how you feel, then I say go for it. I wouldn't really plan to do too much distance walking, like I wouldn't go to the zoo in SD or sea world, too much walking and standing around, plus the heat will zap be best out of anyone. To me, the hardest part of the vacation will be the menatal part. For me, vacation what a lot about what resturants we were going to try and eating out. Being less than a week post op, you will have to find other things to focus your thoughts on besides food, but allowing yourself to heal. I had a chance to go on a trip shortly after my surgery, decided not to. Turned out to be a good thing because I was having a hard time adjusting to learning how to eat differently after the LB and vacation would have been less enjoyable while going through that learning phase, at least for me. Bottom line, if you can plan to have what you need avialable, (types of food and lots of water), and your plans can flex with how you are feeling, I would say have fun!

I would say that at 7 days out, you should be fine. You may even want to check with MD to see about going in the water. I think the biggest thing will be just making sure you have the kinds of foods you need accessable to you when on vacation and plan for that. Everything else will fall into place. I was off all pain medications at that point, and was back to work. I think really after the 4th day, I could have done just about anything. Having had the LB with plication myself, I think that 7 days out, you really should be fine, and it will give yourself a situation where you can relax and heal. Just keep the right kind of foods around and drink your water and you should be good to go.

Make sure you take your pain medication at the smallest time intervals to keep the pain at bay.

Bel12- I would make sure that you find a couple of good protein shake options that you actually like. Also, make sure that you have stuff that you are allowed to eat, and try to rid your house of the things you can't. I have a DH, that didn't like that idea, but I changed it up. For example, he still wanted chips around, so I got a flavor of chip that he liked and I hate. Same with things like Ice Cream, and other trigger foods. I also made sure I had either bottled water, or a watter bottle to keep up with my water intake for the day. For the ride home, make sure you have a pillow so you can put that between the seat belt and your stomach. I would also make sure you have your prescriptions for post op filled before you even go to have your surgery so you don't have to wait for them when you get home or make an additional stop to pick them up. Gas X strips are a must, and be prepared to walk when you get home because that it really the only thing that helps with the gas pressure and pain. Stock up on liquid items that you can have, which is probably going to be pretty limited if your pre-op and post-op diet restrictions are like most.

The carbination is the cause of possible pouch dilation and gas pain. The soda itself, can be a source of extra calories and sugar that are counter productive for weigh loss. My MD said that with Beer and other adult beverages, that because we don't have as much food in our stomachs to absorb the alcohol, that it can result in becoming intoxicated much more quickly and also the calorie factor again. My MD said just to be careful with any alcohol and listen to my body signs and that carbinated beverages are ok in small amounts once in a while, but the flatter the better.

My MD said that soda in small amounts was ok, especially if it was flat or almost flat and sugar free.

If you have issues with frequent BM's it could be new lactose intolerance if you are drinking milk based protein drinks. I was that way until I realized that it was the cow's milk and switched to soy milk and egg white based protein powder. If you don't drink milk before pre-op diet starts, and then increase it so significantly, your body can develop an intolerance. Otherwise, BM's are every 2-3 day occurrences.

Just had my 30 day post op PCP appointment, and went from taking Oral Combo med of Januvia and Metformin 50/1000 twice a day to 50/500 twice a day. PCP had a goal for me to keep by BS below 150 in this intial post op period and I've been successful in doing that. Checking my A1C in 2 months to see how it is doing. Hoping it will be much better than the one pre-op was of 8.8 (ouch). The carbs are key. My LB surgeon wants me to keep carbs at or below 25 per day. I notice when I stray from that too much, I pay the price with my BS result in the AM. The combination of less calories, less carbs, and less weight will make a big difference in your DM management for the better.

My surgeon told me, for the first few days post op, don't let anyone eat in front of you. The smell alone can induce nausea fits, which make even water become undesirable. During the liquid phase and mushy phase post op, it was really hard. I would also cook my DH some of my favorite things, but somehow I found the will to just remember that isn't my food anymore, I have a new plan. I ended up finding some foods I could have that i bought just for me, at them infront of him, and made him jealous of what I was eating. He understood then. Now that I'm able to eat normal foods again, it's easier. I just eat much less and it takes me forever to eat.

Had my 1 month post op PCP appointment. Last week had my 3 week follow up LB surgeon appointment. Good news is I'm down 25lbs since sx on 4/2/12. BP was normal for the first time in A WHILE. Blood sugars are consistently below 140 (goal intially was below 150). Just a small tweak of meds and more lab work in 2 months. Feeling pretty good these days! You all are great encouragement and support, even when just lurking!

well think of having the band and being in an ER that is not familar with it. In reality, there are really only 2 things that can be done. One, remove the fill, two, have it surgically removed. I have seen posts were some hospitals don't have needles long enough to reach ports to do unfills. I would suggest asking your baratric surgeon for such a needle to keep on hand with you in case of an emergency situation. Just the needle, as the connections to syringes are pretty standards and any ER will have a syringe that can be used to do an unfil. That way, even if you end up somewhere like while on vacation or otherwise not prepared for patients with LB's, you have the equipment needed to protect your band from being unfilled with a device that can result in damage to the port or creating leaks. Now with that said, convincing one of those MD's to use it in the event of an urgent issue, that could be the real challange. I would aslo familarize myself and your loved ones where your port is located to hopefully prevent delays in unfilling by having to way for fluroscopy. My surgeon recommended that a huber (non coring needle) always be used to prevent damage to the port. He is also the one that suggested I keep one with me once I start getting fills.

Sx at 730am, discharged next day at 10am. Worst part was the gas pain from inflating your abdomen. I wasn't really able to eat anything during that entire time except for a bite of jello and 1/4 of a cup of tea. Advice- get all of the post op prescriptions filled and have them at home before your surgery. That way you won't have to wait for them after being discharged. Also, be prepared to have a pillow or something to cushion your abdomen from the seat belt. The bumps are rough. I would also make sure your going home clothes are easy to put on as well as your shoes so you don't have to bend over too much. Take advantage of walking around the hospital floor you are on. that helps with the pain.

Mine is right under my bra line in the middle. It was a little sore sleeping on my stomach for about 2 weeks post op, and I can feel it and there is a little dent where it is. My husband thinks is weriod to feel it so he is kind of freaked out by it. I think it serves as a great reminder of what we have done to help ourselves become more healthy. As well as the scars from the incisions.

WOW- so many powerful questions and insights. Marketingdude- I'm not that far out post op, but to answer a couple of questions you put out there for feedback. 1. I don't think that eating with a LB will ever be considered normal. What I have noticed is how quickly those without LB eat, the big bites without regard to chewing 27 times before swallowing, or the size of the bite and I don't think that how we are supposed to eat will ever be considered normal. Consider- how normal is it for adults to order items off kids menus because of portion size? How normal is it to order dinner and take 3/4 home with you? Our eating with the LB will have to become our own normal but the concept of what is normal pre LB and post LB is a journey each person will have to take on their own and find themselves. 2. Adjustment to having the LB is really a personal matter. For me, it is all about having foods readily avialable to me that I can eat and enjoy. Also, having a plan if that item at home isn't possible. Like, what are things that I can have at a resturant that I go to often and having that knowledge so you don't feel like you are condemed to a life of never eating out again or having only what you planned the night before. 3. What I wished I knew before was what all of this talk of "head hungry" really meant. For me, it has meant that when the feeling of hungry hits, which for me post LB has been pretty few and far between, my head thinks, I want this, and that, and that, and then it turns out that after about 4-6 bites I'm totally full and staring at all of this food I put in front of me that before the LB would have already been comsumed. Or ordering a item at a resturant of a cetrain size, and realizing that you probably wouldn't have even finished a small order of that item had you ordered it. All in all, I think there are 2 things that really come into mind when going through this transiion. One is you have to find your new normal that is hidden within the old normal. Which means, your favorite resturant is still going to be your favorite resturant. For me, I had to order the same thing I did before the LB and then realize, that it was too much food, that it made me feel physically bad after I ate it, and come up with something else there that I know the next time I come, I can focus on having that item instead of focusing on what I can't/shouldn't have. The second thing is that in the beginning, you really have to think about everything that you put into your mouth. I would have never though twice about taking a bite of a sandwhich or bread, but now, It is all different. But it's become normal not to eat bread, it is just a new normal. For me, I need the physicial discomfort that eating the wrong foods or too much creates to teach my brain not to do that anymore. That's the kind of stimulation I need to say, hey dummy, don't do that again. Like a young kid touching a hot stove, they don't do that again once they get burned. I long for the time when I don't have to think about this kind of thing when eating, but I haven't given myself a time table for when that will happen.

I was on egg white protein powder mixed with 8 oz of vanilla soy milk. I hated the way any premixed protein shakes taste. That along with water, jello (SF), and broth.